Dorstenia elata aka Mattress Button Plant

Dorstenia elata belongs to the mulberry family, Moraceae. Its common names include mattress button plant and wart flower. It comes from eastern Brazil, where it grows in Atlantic forests. Its native climate is wet and tropical. This small perennial forms a shrub or subshrub. Garden plants reach 1–1.5 feet (0.30–0.46 metres) tall. They spread 1.5–2 feet (0.46–0.61 metres) wide.

Rhizomes support upright growth and fleshy, succulent stems. The stems range from green to brown. Dark green leaves have a glossy, leathery surface. Their shapes range from oval to lanceolate, with serrated edges. The simple leaves grow alternately and form a rosette. Each blade can reach 0.83 feet (0.25 metres) long. Leaf width reaches about 0.33 feet (0.10 metres). Leaf stalks can reach 0.5 feet (0.15 metres).

Flowers and fruits appear in spring and summer. Stout stalks carry green to dark purple flower heads. Each head forms a fleshy cup called a hypanthodium. Its rough surface gives rise to the name wart flower. Female flowers sit near the base of the cup. Male flowers grow near its opening, with sterile flowers between. The receptacle can span 0.17 feet (0.05 metres). Ripe fruits split open and throw out their seeds. Seeds may land 3 feet (0.91 metres) from the parent.

Grow this plant in partial, dappled, or deep shade. It needs high humidity and moist soil rich in organic matter. Loamy soil with good drainage suits it well. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. It tolerates brief dry or wet spells, but not saturated soil. It also tolerates heat and some bright light. Recommended growing temperatures are 68–86°F. It survives winters outdoors in USDA zones 10–12. Its small size suits containers and indoor growing. Gardeners grow it for its leaves and unusual flower heads.

Aphids and scale insects can attack this plant. Excess moisture can lead to fungal disease. Scattered seeds can make it weedy in greenhouses and subtropical gardens. Remove flower heads before fruits ripen to limit its spread. Seeds also provide a means of propagation. NC State reports culinary use and traditional use as an antioxidant. That report does not identify edible parts or establish safety. It also describes the species as endangered, without citing an IUCN assessment.